WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY!

John and Alan Perry

John Perry and his son Alan dairy farm 90ha at Puahue, Te Awamutu. For 20 years before they met a local TerraCare soil consultant, they used a company with a similar philosophy but had not seen the promised changes in fertility or increased production on the farm in that time! Frustrated, they came to understand that balancing soil elements and good fertilising practice is only one side of the coin. It's equally important to have the right products and quantities that determine results! Because of a thorough understanding of the Perry's soil type and their farms capacity, TerraCare's recommendations quickly began lifting fertility levels in the soil and increasing pasture production. The farm began to change, not only visually but available soil reserves started to lift soil test results dramatically. The pasture obviously had more guts in it! TerraCare's good soil and fertilising practice lifted the limited ceiling on the farm increasing its capacity to do better production.

The majority of the farm is a mairoa ash soil type, hence phosphate was locked under Olsen P 20 continually being held up from highly soluble Super and aluminum in the soil. Acidity was a problem. Magnesium had never been applied to the farm except for dusting causemag at calving. Over a two year period with a new fertilizer program in place the farm began responding well. Cows soon sensed a higher nutrient value in the pasture so recovery improved and cow grazing habits changed significantly. Sustain nitrogen was introduced at strategic times in Spring and Autumn to thicken pastures into summer and increase autumn saved pasture. Granulated Dicalcic Phosphate with Magnesium, Boron, Selenium and Cobalt have always been a part of maintaining healthy levels in the pasture. Calving has become trouble free with little if any vet visits for metabolic problems. Mating previously produced too high a percentage of empties however today cow body weight and feeding has improved so much the empty cow percentage has dropped consistently to single figures.

Today the Perry farm is running to optimum from higher soil fertility, more palatable pasture and contented cows. Fertiliser recommendations are now at a very maintenance level.

Willie & Mary Buchmann Testimonial

Swiss farmers Willie & Mary Buchmann own a 72 ha Dairy farm near Pirongia. When they purchased the property it was a traditional potash superphosphate, urea fertilized farm. Previous production was unimpressive coming from stepper sidlings, undrained swamps and runout pastures.

After a first time visit to the farm, soil tests were pulled on hills, flats and effluent areas. It was obvious that major nutrient imbalances were driving this farm in the past along with predictable animal health issues .Soil and plant tests revealed largely locked up phosphate reserves, low 5.6 pH, excessive Potassium in the plants, well below optimum soil Magnesium and Calcium levels. It was critical to start to get things right as soon as possible.

For the Buchmann's to have their soil working in sync with pasture and good cow health we agreed to applied 1 tonne/ha of Maglime with Boron then 6 weeks later 320 kg/ha of Dicalcic phosphate with 60kg salt, trace elements of Cobalt, Selenium & Copper were also added into the Spring mix. For the next Autumn and Spring the MagLime and Boron were applied at the same rates as an extra capital programme to lift calcium and magnesium which as a result bought pH up to 6.3. These two elements are fundamental to getting everything else in balance!
Eventually phosphates freed up in the soil and nutrients began to work in relationship with one another.

Employing a TerraCare consultant has made the Buchmann's journey effortless and educational which has produced obvious (visible) results. Cows are content, production has increased at little extra cost, more palatable grass composition has produced a well balanced herd diet. Now days, all that happens is a cost effective maintenance Dicalcic mix in Spring and Autumn. TerraCare Dicalcic phosphate is continually available to the plant . It maintains pH, rarely requiring larger quantities of lime application on the farm again.

With a willingness to learn more about their soil fertility and work with TerraCare the Buchmann's have confidence they are looking after the environment with less soluble products at the same time achieving higher profitability.

Even though potassium is still high it's not harmful. Little if any Potash has been applied for several years. Willie & Mary have lifted production from 850 to 1200kg/ms/ha from 250 cows on 68ha. 15 ha has been contoured with swamps all drained. Brassica's and maize are grown to supplement summer droughts or to renovate paddocks. Palm kernel and Maize silage are also added to the herd diet.

Chris and Ross Turner, Karaka Jersey Stud, Kihikihi

"After 9 years of using Dicalcic Phosphate on our 52ha dairy farm at Kihikihi, the pastures have completely changed. Stronger tillers in rye grass, deeper rooting during droughts and a 50 year daisy problem has all but disappeared.

In the time we've transitioned to Dicalcic our stocking rate has increased from 160 to 200 cows with all aspects of animal health improving. Our production per cow/ha has been lifting every year with not only greater dry matter but a more nutritious composition of pasture. (Several forms of supplement are used on the farm) Much improved recovery of paddocks from dry summers and winter calving is a sure sign our soils are healthy, draining better and full of microbial and worm life."

 Allan & Paula Bryant, Tiki Road, Parawera

"14 years ago many of my cows were dying of bloat every spring from the previous 35 years of 500kg/ha 30% potassic Super phosphate.  Something was wrong

with the grass!  My river flats flooded every winter,

there was a pan about 8" down.  Bloat was everywhere and I couldn't get cows in calf.

At that time I was introduced to looking at my farm soil and fertiliser program with a more balanced approach.  Products such as Calcium, Magnesium, Boron and Salt were introduced.  Liming the whole farm was the starting point of an incredible journey of change that saw my cows walk away from metabolic problems, especially bloat and infertility.  Today we never fear the loss of cows through bloat and don't even drench or bullet for it!

Since those early days I have progressively grown my business from one farm to four farms using TerraCare Dicalcic Phosphate.  With a balanced approach to soil fertility each farm is now healthy, free draining and strong in rye and clover.  We have minimal need for weed control with excellent re-growth following a heavy grazing in autumn and winter.  We use slow release Nitrogen as and when we need it.

These days we winter milk, grow 40ha's of maize silage and rear and run 150ha of heifer replacements and beef.  Each property has to perform to its maximum.

On all our farms TerraCare Dicalcic is used with a lot less Potash, balancing the elements by treating root problems in the soil not only the animal.

Each of our farms stands alone with annual soil testing and individual fertiliser recommendations applied to each.  I attribute a lot of my progress and production to the decision I made 14 years ago to change the type of products I use and the way I fertiliser."

 Graham McAdams, Pukeatua

"My grass just wasn't growing! They did a soil test and we applied the fert, 3 months later my grass has never been better!"

Robert Port, Ngaroma

"I have been a dicalcic user for over six years.  I believe that TerraCare's range of DCP (Di-calcic Phosphate) products are the best to use in my application and I am more than happy with the results I have been getting."

Brian Anselmi, Pio Pio

"We have been using dicalcic for six years. What I like about TerraCare DCP range is that we now get good even grazing of our paddocks, prior to this we didn't use to.  I am also very pleased with the pasture and clover growth since using dicalcic."

Doug and Lorraine Courtman, Otorohanga

"We are dairy farming in the Otorohanga area and have been long term dicalcic users.  We have noticed major improvements with our pasture composition which has been visible to us in the clover health, production and sward density.  These notable changes have only occurred since changing to dicalcic fertiliser blends."